In a letter obtained by the website, which was submitted to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by NY attorney James H. Freeman, in which he asks for permission to sue Idol and FOX on behalf of his clients, who have all appeared on the show, Freeman is required to file with the EEOC before filing suit.

The show’s background check includes the question “Have you ever been arrested,” which Freeman claims violates California employment law, since the contestants are essentially applying for “employment” with “American Idol.” The information obtained via that question, along with arrest records that “Idol” obtains via private investigators, are then used to humiliate the black contestants on TV and perpetuate negative stereotypes of black people, alleges Freeman.

Freeman also claims the show has never once publicly disqualified a white or non-black contestant.

What say you? Do you believe the former contestants have a leg to stand on with this lawsuit?